All Chapters of Return Of The Betrayed Heiress : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

EmeldaI stepped forward, keeping my movement graceful despite what Rachel had just accused me of. When I spoke, my voice was calm, clear, and completely confident."I appreciate Ms. Sanchez... concern... about my charitable contributions," I said, hearing several people in the crowd murmur at my subtle dig. "But since she's brought it up publicly, I'm happy to clarify."I paused, and in that moment, I could see it in Rachel's eyes, the dawning realization that she'd made a terrible mistake."Tonight, I'm pleased to announce a fifty million dollar donation to the Golden Ivy Foundation," I said , my voice carrying easily through the stunned silence. "The funds come directly from the profits of my latest innovations, innovations that I developed entirely independently, with full legal documentation of my intellectual property rights."The ballroom erupted. Not in the horrified gasps Rachel had expected, but in genuine amazement and enthusiastic applause. Fifty million dollars. Fifty mil

The familiar voice cut through the perfect moment like a scream in a silent room. My heart was still racing from Smith's kiss, my lips still tingling from the sweetness of it, when I turned to see David Kim stepping into the moonlight."David?" I blinked, trying to shift my mind from the romantic haze back to reality. "What are you doing here?"He raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, a sheepish smile playing at his lips. "Sorry for interrupting your moment." His eyes moved between Smith and me, and that smile widened. "Though I have to say, you two look good together."Heat crept up my neck. Of course David would show up at the exact moment Smith and I had finally broken through our walls. The universe had a twisted sense of timing.Smith stood smoothly, extending his hand to David with the kind of easy confidence I'd come to admire. "I don't believe we've been introduced.""David Kim," he said, shaking Smith's hand. "And you must be the famous Smith Robinson CEO of Robinson E

The doors shut behind Allen, and silence blanketed the room.I stood frozen, every muscle in my body coiled tight. My hands trembled, and my pulse roared in my ears like I'd just stepped out of a battlefield rather than an engagement celebration.Smith's arm slid around my waist, steadying me. "It's over."His voice was low enough for only me to hear, but his calmness felt like a lifeline in the sea of whispers swelling around us. The guests had recovered from their shock and were now buzzing with gossip, phones already out, no doubt capturing every moment for social media.But it wasn't over. Not really.I could feel it in the pit of my stomach, Allen wasn't finished. That kind of rage didn't vanish with a security escort. The desperation in his voice, the wild look in his bloodshot eyes, told me he was capable of anything now.Margaret appeared at my other side, her face a mask of practiced control, though I caught the flicker of fury in her dark eyes. "We'll discuss this later," s

"We take Allen down. Properly this time. Not just his company, everything. His reputation, his freedom, his ability to ever hurt another person the way he hurt you."The ruthlessness in her voice should have scared me. Instead, it felt like slipping into my true skin."The patents alone will destroy him in court," Margaret continued. "Add Rachel's evidence of the overseas sales, and we have him on multiple federal charges.""Corporate espionage, theft of intellectual property, potentially treason if those buyer connections are what I think they are."I looked down at the patent documents scattered across the table. At the flash drive that could end Allen's career. At the empire I'd never known was mine."What's our first move?""We call our lawyers. All of them. And then we call the FBI."My breath caught. "The FBI?""Darling, when you steal patented technology and sell it to foreign entities, that's not just corporate crime. That's a matter of national security."Margaret's smile was

Margaret's words echoed in my mind long after the call ended. Innocent people don't try to silence their accusers.She was right. Allen's desperation was proof of his guilt. For once, I wasn't afraid of him. I was angry. Furious at how much he'd stolen. How much of myself I'd let him take.Julienne's documentary wasn't just a story anymore. It was a weapon. If Allen wanted war, I was going to give him one he couldn't win.That night, I stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows of the mansion. I stared out at the city lights below. Once, I'd looked at this view and felt small. Like I was living in Allen's shadow even in my own family home.Not anymore. My hands curled into fists. A slow, dangerous calm settled over me."This ends now," I whispered to my reflection.The next morning, I called Smith."Tell me you're ready to burn Carter Enterprises to the ground."There was a pause. Then a low, amused chuckle. "You sound dangerous, Emelda.""I've been dangerous for a long time. I'm just fina